Golf club holiday tree display apparatus

ABSTRACT

A display apparatus including an upper and lower support base each having a central opening and a plurality of peripheral slots to engage and support a plurality of sports implements, such as golf clubs, in an upright and generally conical position that when decorated, simulates a holiday tree.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a display apparatus and in particular to a display apparatus for forming a plurality of sports striking instruments, such as golf clubs, into a simulated holiday tree.

Artificial Christmas and/or holiday trees are well known as an alternative to using a natural cut tree that is normally discarded after the holiday season is over. Artificial trees are normally saved and allow multiple years of use in subsequent years but require space for storage after the holiday season is over.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The display apparatus of the present invention includes components to make a simulated holiday or Christmas tree using a plurality of golf clubs or other similar sport implements such as hockey or lacrosse sticks where the sports implements form the frame of the holiday tree that can be decorated with a wide variety of decorations in accordance with the preference of the user.

More particularly, the display apparatus allows the sports implements to be connected and arranged upright in a generally conical orientation that when decorated with garland, decorations and lights, simulates an artificial holiday tree. The display apparatus is a simple yet novel design that can easily be stored in a box, drawer of similar location in the same place as the other holiday decorations.

The display apparatus includes a lower two-piece base, and an upper bracket that vertically support the sports implements used to make the tree. The base and upper bracket each include slots to locate and support the shafts of the implements in an upright position. The holiday tree is completed with the addition of decorations such as garland, decorations and lights that are wrapped around the sports implements.

In a preferred embodiment, the sports implements are golf clubs thus enabling the holiday tree to be customized for golfers. It will be appreciated that the apparatus may be modified for use with other sports implements such as lacrosse or hockey sticks.

An object of the present invention is to provide a display apparatus to enable a user to position preferred sports implements in a configuration that, when decorated, simulates an artificial holiday tree.

This object will become apparent with reference to the following drawings and accompanying detailed description.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the display apparatus of the invention supporting a plurality of golf clubs in an upright position.

FIG. 2 is a top view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of FIG. 1

FIGS. 4 and 5 are views of a detail of a lower section of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are views of a detail of an upper section of FIG. 1

FIG. 8 is an elevation view of the display apparatus supporting a plurality of golf clubs and decorations attached thereto.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, a display apparatus 100 includes a lower support base 102 and an upper support bracket 104 that supports a plurality of golf clubs 106 and 108 in an upright position. In a preferable embodiment, the display apparatus 100 supports six of the golf clubs 106 around the peripheral edge of the lower support base 102 and upper support bracket 104 and supports a centrally located, single golf club 108 that is attached at the center of the support base 102 and upper support bracket 104 as described hereinbelow.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 are detailed views of the lower support base 102. Preferably, the lower support base 102 is formed of two semi-circular members 110 and 112 that are designed to be connected using interlocking tabs 114. The outer periphery of the lower support base is provided with six rounded slots 116 that are designed to receive and locate the rounded cross-sectional shape of the shafts of the golf clubs 106. The lower support base 102 includes an upper and lower retaining disc 118 and 120 that maintains the two semi-circular members 110 and 112 together when the support base 102 is assembled using a bolt and wing nut connector 122. The support base 102 is completed with a pair of gripping inserts 124 each formed in a semi-circular, cup shape having a half round gripping slot 126 sized to be attached to and hold a shaft of the single golf club 108, see FIG. 4, such that when the inserts 124 are positioned into the lower support base 102, see FIG. 5, the single golf club 108 is positioned in an upright position.

The display apparatus 100 includes a top support bracket 128 having a circular outer periphery with a plurality of six larger slots 130 sized to receive the rounded cross-sectional shape of the upper grip portion of each of the six golf clubs 106. The top support bracket 128 includes a central opening 132 that positions two additional inserts 124 of the type described above and these inserts 124 grip an upper portion of the shaft of the golf club 108, see FIG. 6 and are positioned in the central opening, see FIG. 7.

To create a holiday tree in accordance with the present invention, the following steps are made using the above-described display apparatus 100. Assemble the bottom support 102 by connecting the two members 110 and 112 by interconnecting the tabs and securing the upper and lower retaining discs 118 and 120 using a bolt and nut fastener.

Next place the top support bracket 128 onto an upper shaft portion of the central golf club 108 approximately 7-8 inches from the striking head of the golf club 108. Secure the shaft of the golf club to the top support bracket 128 using two halves of a gripping insert 124 around the shaft and friction fit into the central opening 132 of the top support bracket 128 to tighten the connection around the shaft.

The lower support base 102 is placed around a lower part of the shaft of the central golf club 108 closer to the grip end of the golf club 108. A pair of gripping inserts 124 around the shaft are fit into the central opening 132.

A plurality of golf clubs 106 are attached to the lower support base 102 by inserting the shafts of the clubs 106 into the slots 116 around the periphery of the lower support base 102. The upper grip portion of the clubs 106 are then inserted into the six larger slots 130 to maintain the clubs 106 in a generally conical configuration. The striking heads at the bottom of the clubs 106 engage the ground surface along with the upper butt portion of the single, centrally supported club 108 forming a stable arrangement.

When the clubs 106 and 108 are attached to the lower support base 102 and the top support bracket 128, various decorations may be wrapped or otherwise attached to form the holiday tree configuration as shown in FIG. 6.

It will be appreciated that more or less numbers of clubs or other game striking implements, such as hockey or lacrosse sticks, may be used in keeping with the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. 

1. A display apparatus in combination with a plurality of sports implements comprising: a lower support base having a first central opening and a first plurality of slots of a first size around the periphery of said base for locating a lower portion of a plurality of sports implements; said lower support base including a two piece insert sized to fit said central opening; each piece of said insert including a gripping slot for holding a single one of said sports implements; an upper support bracket having a second central opening and a second plurality of slots of a second larger size for locating an upper portion of said plurality of sports implements; said upper support bracket including a two piece insert sized to fit said second central opening; said insert including a gripping slot for holding said single one of said sports implements; whereby, said sports implements are mounted in an upright position.
 2. The display apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of sports implements include striking heads and an elongated shaft attached thereto.
 3. The display apparatus of claim 2 wherein said sports implements are golf clubs.
 4. The display apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lower support base is formed in a two piece configuration and further includes upper and lower discs connected to said support base to maintain the two piece configuration connected.
 5. The display device of claim 1 said first and said second plurality of slots are formed to match a cross-sectional shape of said sports implements. 